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Spokane Health Officer Talks New COVID Screening Site, Masks

Doug Nadvornick/SPR

Spokane health officials hope to reopen the county’s portable coronavirus screening site this week.

“We’ve identified a new site at the fairgrounds that is enclosed and so we won’t have to worry about the fickleness of our spring weather and we hope to have that site up and running as early as 10 am this Thursday," said Spokane County Health Officer Bob Lutz.

He also announced Wednesday that 165 county residents are now confirmed coronavirus cases. A man in his 70s has died, the fifth person in the county to pass away due to the virus.

At a Facebook Live briefing, several people asked Lutz his thoughts about whether to wear masks when out in public. He said the CDC is reconsidering an earlier directive that masks aren’t helpful and shouldn’t be worn. That review, he believes, is appropriate.

“If I have infection, if I’m able to put a mask on, I can prevent others from getting infected. So at this point, I would like to say the guidance is evolving; it can’t hurt. It can’t hurt fundamentally to wear a mask if you’re out in the public," Lutz said.

One note related to Spokane County: the county commissioners have voted to suspend for the next three months all late fees and interest charges for solid waste and sewer bills.